Timeline of the American Presidency . . . PoetPatriot.com

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American History - Presidency

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TimeLine of the American Presidency
The American Presidency - beginning in 1787

Presidential Jump - G Washington - J Adams - T Jefferson - J Madison - J Monroe - J Q Adams - A Jackson -
- M Van Buren - W H Harrison - J Tyler - J Polk - Z Taylor - M Fillmore - F Pierce - J Buchanan - A Lincoln - A Johnson -
- U S Grant - R B Hayes - J Garfield - C Arthur - G Cleveland - B Harrison - G Cleveland - W McKinley - T Roosevelt -
- W Taft - W Wilson - W Harding - C Coolidge - H Hoover - F D Roosevelt - H Truman - D D Eisenhower - J F Kennedy -
- L B Johnson - R Nixon - G Ford - J Carter - R Reagan - G H W Bush - B Clinton - G W Bush - BH Obama -
- Act of Congress establishing the U.S. Presidency -

Inauguration Speeches   -   Party Platforms   -   The Early Presidents   -   Distinctions of the Presidencies

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TimeLine of the American Presidency

The American Presidency, we know today, was established by the ratification of the United States Constitution in 1788. That was twelve years after John Hancock signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4^th, 1776. Earlier in 1774 the colonies joined together for a unity of common protection under the (First) Continental Congress. Thus beginning the seventeen presidencies prior to George Washington. See the Early Presidency. Upon the ratification of the United States Constitution the Presidency of the United States was created. George Washington received a unanimous electoral vote to become the first 'President of the United States of America.' Having been the Military leader of the Colonial Armies in the American Revolution and becoming the first President under the new United States Constitution, George Washington is given the distinction of being the 'Father of our Country.'

1787

Act

The office of President and Vice President were created at the constitutional convention in 1787.
- Next Act

1788

Act

The United States Constitution is ratified which as well as civil rights, defines the three branches of government establishing the American Presidency.
- Next Act

1788

Act

The U. S. Constitution, Article II, Section 1, Clause 6, states the Vice President replaces the President upon a vacancy and gives Congress the power to determine further succession.
- Next Act

1789

George Washington becomes the first President of the United States of America. He was elected by a unanimous vote of presidential electors of the new government.
See President George Washington

1793

President George Washington begins his second term as president serving until 1797.
See President George Washington

1796

George Washington declined to run for a third term suggesting that two terms of four years each should be enough for any president.

1797

John Adams is the second President of the United States of America and serves from 1797 to 1801.
See President John Adams

1801

Thomas Jefferson the 3rd President of the U.S. and serves from 1801 to 1809.
                                               - Next Term
         See President Thomas Jefferson

1804

Act

The 12th Amendment was ratified separating the vote in the Electoral College for president from the vote for vice president. The change makes it less likely that the President and Vice President would be of differing parties.
- Next Act

1805

President Thomas Jefferson is re-elected.
- Prior Term
See President Thomas Jefferson

1809

James Madison becomes the 4th President in 1809, serving until 1817.
See President James Madison

1813

President James Madison begins second term as President.
See President James Madison

1817

James Monroe becomes the 5th President of the United States in 1817 serving through 1825.
See President James Monroe

1821

President James Monroe begins a second term as President of the United States.
See President James Monroe

1825

John Quincy Adams is inaugurated in 1825 becoming the 6th American President and serves until 1829.
See President John Quincy Adams

1829

The 7th President of the U. S. is Andrew Jackson, who serves from 1829 to 1837.
See President Andrew Jackson

1833

President Andrew Jackson begins his second term.
See President Andrew Jackson

1837

Martin Van Buren serves from 1837 to 1841 as the 8th President of the United States.
See President Martin Van Buren

1841

William Henry Harrison is the 9th President of the United States of America for 31 days in 1841.
See President William Henry Harrison

1841

Act

The U.S. Constitution did not make clear whether, upon the President's death the Vice President became "acting" or "permanent" President. Vice President John Tyler asserted the "permanent" position and takes the Presidential oath of office establishing the precedent.
- Next Act

1841

John Tyler becomes the 10th President of the United States upon the death of President Harrison, serving from 1841 until 1845.
See President John Tyler

1845

James Knox Polk becomes the 11th President of the U. S., serving from 1845 until 1849.
See President James Knox Polk

1845

Act

The Tuesday after the first Monday in November, every forth year, was established in 1845 for the appointment of Presidential Electors. That date remained when the system for selecting electors was changed to the citizen vote selecting the electors. America had been an agrarian society. American law makers considered that November was the most convenient month for farmers and rural workers to leave the fields and jobs for a trip to the polls.
- Next Act

1849

Zachary Taylor becomes the 12th President in 1849 and serves until 1850.
See President Zachary Taylor

1850

Millard Fillmore, becomes the 13th U.S. President upon the death of President Zachary Taylor. He serves from 1850 to 1853.
See President Millard Fillmore

1853

Franklin Pierce is the 14th President serving from 1853 to 1857.
See President Franklin Pierce

1857

James Buchanan serves from 1857 to 1861 as the 15th President of the United States.
See President James Buchanan

1861

Abraham Lincoln begins serving as the 16th President from 1861 until assassinated in 1865.
See President Abraham Lincoln

1865

President Abraham Lincoln begins his second term as President of the United States.
See President Abraham Lincoln

1865

The 17th President of the United States is Andrew Johnson who serves from 1865 to 1869. Johnson becomes President upon the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.
See President Andrew Johnson

1868

Act

Congress impeaches President Andrew Johnson for removing Secretary of War Edwin Stanton in violation of the Tenure of Office Act, but he is acquitted.
- Next Act

1869

Ulysses Simpson Grant is the 18th President of the United States serving from 1869 until 1877.
See President Ulysses S. Grant

1873

President Ulysses Simpson Grant begins his second term as President of the United States.
See President Ulysses S. Grant

1877

Rutherford Birchard Hayes begins his term as the 19th President of the U. S. serving from 1877 to 1881.
See President Rutherford B. Hayes

1881

James Abram Garfield Serves as the 20th President and is assassinated in 1881.
See President James Garfield

1881

Chester Alan Arthur is elevated to the presidency upon the assassination of President Garfield. He serves from 1881 to 1885 as America's 21st President.
See President Chester Alan Arthur

1885

Stephen Grover Cleveland becomes the 22nd president serving from 1885 to1889.
- Next Term
See President Grover Cleveland

1886

Act

The Presidential Succession Act of 1947 replaced the 1792 succession law and placed members of the cabinet in the line of succession by order in which their agencies were created.
- Next Act

1889

Benjamin Harrison is the 23rd United States President from 1889 to1893.
See President Benjamin Harrison

1891

Act

It was decided the President pro tempore of the Senate would serve until a new one was elected.
- Next Act

1893

President Grover Cleveland, again claims the presidency after one term out of office, becoming the 24th. President of the United States.
- Prior Term
See President Grover Cleveland

1897

William McKinley, the 25th President serves from 1897 until 1901.
See President William McKinley

1901

President William McKinley begins a second term as President.
See President William McKinley

1901

Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt becomes the 26th President upon the death of President McKinley. Retaining the presidency he is elected in 1905 and serves until 1909.
- Next Term
See President Teddy Roosevelt

1901

Act

Resulting from the assassination of President McKinley, by a Polish anarchist, Congress enacts the Anarchist Exclusion Act. The Anarchist Act allows the excluding of immigrants based on their political opinions.
- Next Act

1905

President Theodore Roosevelt retains the Presidency.
- Prior Term
See President Teddy Roosevelt

1909

William Howard Taft is the 27th President and serves from 1909 to 1913.
See President William Howard Taft

1913

Thomas Woodrow Wilson serves from 1913 to 1921 as the 28th President of the United States.
See President Woodrow Wilson

1917

President Woodrow Wilson is re-elected President of the United States.
See President Woodrow Wilson

1921

Warren G. Harding in 1921 is inaugurated as the 29th U.S. President and serves until 1923.
See President Warren G. Harding

1923

Calvin Coolidge, upon President Harding's death becomes the 30th American President, and serves until 1929.
See President Calvin Coolidge

1925

President Calvin Coolidge retains the presidency.
See President Calvin Coolidge

1929

Herbert Hoover is the 31st President serving from 1929 until 1933.
See President Herbert Hoover

1933

The 32nd U.S. President is Franklin D. Roosevelt, who serves from 1933 to 1945.
- Next Term
See President Franklin D. Roosevelt

1933

Act

The 20th Amendment was ratified shortening the interval between the election for president and the inauguration. The president is elected on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November of every fourth year.
- Next Act

1937

President Franklin D. Roosevelt is re-elected to a second term.
- Next Term
See President Franklin D. Roosevelt

1940

GW

FDR

George Washington had set the tradion of only two terms for President which had been honored by all second term Presidents until Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Franklin D. Roosevelt decided to continue guiding the nation out of the Great Depression to run for a third term. He then, being at the helm during WWII, ran again for a fourth term. Editorials were harsh against his breaking with tradition and his third opponent Wendel Wilkie forced a hard campaign.

1941

President Franklin D. Roosevelt begins a third term.
- Prior Term
See President Franklin D. Roosevelt

1945

President Franklin D. Roosevelt is re-elected to a fourth term, but will die in office.
- Back to 1st. Term
See President Franklin D. Roosevelt

1945

FDR

The death of Franklin D. Roosevelt quelled fears of a longer enduring presidency.

1945

U.S. Vice President Harry S. Truman becomes the 33rd President upon the death of Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1945.
- Next Term
See President Harry Truman

1945

Act

The 22nd Amendment was proposed to limit the terms of office a President could hold. "No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, ..."
- Next Act

1947

Act

Presidential Succession Act of 1947 says should a President die in office the following is the order of succession: Vice President, Speaker of the House, President Pro Tempore of the Senate, Secretary of State, Secretary of the Treasury, Secretary of Defense, Attorney General, and Secretaries of the Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, Labor, Health, Housing, Transportation, Energy, Education, and Veterans Affairs.
- Next Act

1947

Act

The 22nd Amendment, proposed to limit the terms of the presidency, was passed by Congress and sent to the states for ratification in 1947.
- Next Act

1949

President Harry S. Truman begins his second term as President.
- Prior Term
See President Harry Truman

1951

Act

The 22nd Amendment, to limit the terms of the presidency, was ratified by the States in 1951.
- Next Act

1953

Dwight D. Eisenhower is the 34th President serving from 1953 to 1961.
See President Dwight D. Eisenhower

1957

President Dwight D. Eisenhower begins his second term as President.
See President Dwight D. Eisenhower

1961

John F. Kennedy serves as the 35th President from 1961 until his assassination in 1963.
See President John F. Kennedy

1963

Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) becomes the 36th U.S. President upon the death of J.F.K. Johnson serves from 1963 to 1969.
See President Lyndon Johnson

1965

President Lyndon B. Johnson is elected in 1964, remaining in office.
See President Lyndon B. Johnson

1967

Act

The 25th Amendment regarding presidential succession, was ratified. It allows for the filling of a Vice Presidential vacancy as well as allow the Vice President an acting roll as President during a presidential disability. "Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, the President shall nominate a Vice President who shall take office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress." - the 25^th Amendment, U. S. Constitution.
- Next Act

1969

Richard M. Nixon is seated as the 37th President of the United States serving from 1969 until he resigns in 1974.
See President Richard M. Nixon

1973

Richard M. Nixon is re-elected President of the United States.
See President Richard M. Nixon

1974

Act

Congress initiates impeachment proceedings against President Nixon for his part in the Watergate scandal. President Nixon resigns rather than put the country through such turmoil.
- Next Act

1974

Gerald R. Ford is sworn in as the 38th US President, when Nixon resigns. President Ford serves from 1974 until 1977.
See President Gerald Ford

1974

Act

The official Vice Presidential residence is designated by Congress as a Washington Mansion previously used by the chief of naval operations.
- Next Act

1975

Act

The president's salary had been $186,300, but by act of Congress is supplemented with cost of living adjustments each year.
It is established that Secret Service guard the Vice President and his family.
- Next Act

1977

Jimmy Carter, the 39th President serves from 1977 until 1981.
See President Jimmy Carter

1981

Ronald Reagan becomes the 40th President in 1981 serving until 1989.
See President Ronald Reagan

1985

President Ronald Reagan begins a second term as President.
See President Ronald Reagan

1989

George H. W. Bush, the 41st President of the United States serves from 1989 until 1993.
See President George Bush

1993

Bill Clinton is the 42 President in 1993 serving until 2001.
- Next Term
See President Bill Clinton

1996

Act

The Line Item Veto Act of 1996 was enacted by Congress giving the President greater power to reduce pork barrel spending. U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Hogan declared it unconstitutional in 1998.
- Next Act

1997

President Bill Clinton begins a second term as President.
- Prior Term
See President Bill Clinton

1998

Act

- U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Hogan ruled the federal law allowing the presidential line-item veto invalid. The case was National Labor Relations Board v. Jones & Laughlin Steel Corp. and later re-affirmed by the U. S. Supreme Court in the case Clinton v. City of New York.
- Next Act

1998

Act

- Congress initiates impeachment proceedings against President Clinton for perjury. He is acquitted in 1999. The impeachment was over his lying in his testimony to Congress. Clinton was the second President to be impeached; President Andrew Johnson was the first to be impeached, who also received acquittal.
- First Act

2001

George W. Bush begins his first term as the 43rd American President, elected in the closest Presidential race in modern history.
See President George W. Bush

2005

President George W. Bush is re-elected in 2004 to his second term as President.
See President George W. Bush

2009

President Barack Hussein Obama is elected in 2008 becoming the first Black-American president. Obama is the 44th President of the United States of America.
See President Barack Hussein Obama

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